September 7th, 2017 Newsletter

“My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy. That some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and more intelligent than college professors.” ― Maya Angelou 

“Ultimately, we actually all belong to only one tribe, to Earthlings.” – Jill Tarter

“My wife, my family, my friends – they’ve all taught me things about love and what that emotion really means. In a nutshell, loving someone is about giving, not receiving.” ― Nicholas Sparks 

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Notes provided by Allan Penwell)

Football guessing this year is sponsored by Cary. This year the point spread is factored into your guess. In other words if you picked Ohio State last weekend with a point spread of +7.5, then OSU had to win by 8 points. As it turns out, OSU had its butt kicked 31-16 so that was a pleasure to see even if your pick was not very good. Good luck to all.

The board meeting this month is September 20th.

The Lake Shelbyville party barge is September 23. Sign up with Keith.

Diana mentioned a Generosity Feeds event on September 30th at Lincoln Square from ten to noon. Generosity Feeds is a national charitable organization that is working to feed hungry children in every county across America so all children have the opportunity to thrive. The plan is to bag 10,000 meals in two hours. Sign-up is required, and Diana will register our volunteers.

Betsy Barringer, wife of our late Larry Barringer, generously presented a check to purchase two Shelterboxes. A Shelterbox contains a family-sized tent and living essentials designed to withstand the elements and provide people with temporary shelter until they are able to obtain permanent housing. Shelterboxes are inventoried to airlift immediately in time of need to anywhere in the world. The Barringer family agreed to donate ten in Larry’s honor, and this donation fulfills their commitment.

PROGRAM

Marlon Mitchell and James Kilgore presented a program on FirstFollowers. FirstFollowers is a local program to provide assistance to those in our community who have been incarcerated or have a criminal conviction. A drop-in center was started in 2015 which is open twice weekly.

In 2014 the State of Illinois spent $1.2 billion for incarceration exclusive of salaries and benefits but very little money to rehabilitate those who were locked up. Re-entry into the job market is almost impossible which is key to moving criminals into the mainstream of our society.  Failure to help reintegrate these individuals has resulted in high rates of recidivism, or the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend and thus go back to prison.

In Champaign County there are 500 men and women on parole. Of those, less than 50% have a high school education, and most have limited literacy and math skills. Mental health issues affect 25% of parolees. Research shows that 82% of local parolees are black and 12% are white. Convicted felons make up 36% of the total.

In summer 2016 FirstFollowers conducted a survey to better understand the issues facing those who have been incarcerated as well their families, specifically in Champaign County.  Findings of the research include: (1) Transitional housing is needed. (2) Family relations are broken down. (3) It is difficult for felons to get a job. (4) Employers are suspicious of convicts.

The drop-in center is located at 401 E. Park Street and provides individual mentoring, assistance with employment searches, and helps connect those in need with resources.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee member responsible listed in parentheses)

September 14th – Joe Sebright, Belegarth Medieval Combat Society (Ethan) (Meeting in Savoy Room)

September 21st – Meagan Smith, Three Spinners (Mary)

September 28th – Jim Rossow, Vice President-News, News-Gazette Media (Phyllis)

October 5th – State Senator Scott Bennett (Bob)

October 12th – Dr. Shirley Palmer, the co-pastor of Faith Methodist Church, will discuss the combined Rotary grant program to provide a men’s homeless shelter over winter months in C-U (Bob)

October 19th – Laurie Matheson, Director, University of Illinois Press (Phyllis)

October 26th – TBD (Mary)

November 2nd – Derek Fultz, Director of Facilities, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, UIUC will discuss the renovation of the Natural History Building (Phyllis)

November 9th – TBD

November 16th – Adelaide Aime, Executive Director, RACES